The king of American food is the hamburger. You can find them in Italy but not as frequently and they definitely don’t taste the same.

Americans talk with their mouths full. Eating in Italy is all about enjoying your food with proper digestion. Nothing is so important that it can’t wait to be said and nothing gained by not waiting.

Americans eat way too much meat. Italians consume very little red meat. A small plate of some pasta followed by a small piece of chicken or fish with vegetables is typical to eat.

The American view of eating “Italian” with heaping plates of spaghetti and meatballs swimming in red sauce is a caricaturized version of the Italian table. A typical Italian meal is a small plate of pasta and a small piece of protein. Like all traditional cultures Italians do celebrate special occasions with abundance but on a daily basis Italians prefer to eat small portions.

Americans eat very fast. Italians eat at a leisurely pace and are better for it. Not only does eating slowly and mindfully help you eat less, it enhances the pleasure of the dining experience.

Italians view dining as an experience. Planning, shopping, the preparation and cooking of the meal are as important as sitting down to eat.

Italians find the size of a cup of coffee in America “too large” with way too many menu options.

Store bought salad dressings are superfluous when you have good olive oil and balsamic.

In case you’re wondering what American food tempted our Italian cousin’s palate the most well it was. . . Amish Fried Chicken and Country Ham, our hometown Donuts and Buffalo Wings!